Shafaqna India: With one in five girls in India still married before the age of 18, the government has launched the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat (Child Marriage-Free India) campaign, focusing on seven states with the highest prevalence of child marriage: West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh. Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi unveiled the initiative, urging states and Union Territories to aim for reducing child marriage rates to below 5% by 2029.
“Child marriage is a severe violation of human rights and a criminal offence,” Devi stated, acknowledging the scale of the challenge but expressing optimism, noting that nearly 200,000 child marriages were prevented last year. The campaign will leverage a newly launched Child Marriage-Free Bharat portal to raise awareness, report cases, and track progress.
Devi emphasized that legal measures like the Prevention of Child Marriage Act alone are insufficient, calling for heightened public awareness. She credited government schemes such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Samagra Shiksha, and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana for empowering girls through education, health, and financial security. Additionally, initiatives like the National Education Policy 2020 and scholarships for disadvantaged groups aim to expand opportunities for girls.
Despite progress—highlighted by a UN report attributing South Asia’s declining child marriage rates to India’s efforts—the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024 reveals ongoing challenges. While child marriage rates have dropped from one in four girls 25 years ago to one in five today, issues like gender violence and limited autonomy over reproductive health persist.
Devi highlighted patriarchal norms as a barrier but expressed confidence in shifting societal attitudes through efforts like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, gender-inclusive communication, Nari Adalats, and safe-city projects under the Nirbhaya Fund. She urged citizens to pledge against child marriage in their communities, underscoring the campaign’s alignment with the vision of a developed and equitable India by 2047.
“We must ensure every girl has the opportunity to reach her full potential. Together, we can make India free of child marriages,” Devi concluded.
